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The Farnsworth House, built by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1951 and located near Plano, Illinois, is one of the most famous examples of modernist domestic architecture and was considered unprecedented in its day. Transcending any traditional domestic function or program, the importance of the house lies rather in the absolute purity and consistency of its architectural idea. As historian Franz Schulze has remarked: “Certainly the house is more nearly temple than dwelling, and it rewards aesthetic contemplation before it fulfills domestic necessity.”

Every donation, large and small, makes a difference! The National Trust for Historic Preservation operates the Farnsworth House as a house museum. Help us maintain this icon of modern architecture by making a tax-deductible gift today. Your help is vital to our success.

Donations can easily be made online by clicking the “Donate Now” box above or you can call us at 630.552.0052 if interested in donating to the Farnsworth House at a higher level. Donating online is totally secure. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express cards.

If you should need help or have a question please call 630.552.0052. Thank you for supporting this masterpiece.

Nature should also live its own life; we should not destroy it with the colors of our houses and interiors. But we should try to bring nature, houses, and human beings together in a higher unity. When you see nature through the glass walls of the Farnsworth House, it gets a deeper meaning than outside. More is asked from nature because it becomes part of the larger whole… I myself have been in [the Farnsworth] house from morning until evening. Until then I had not known how colorful Nature can be. One must be careful to use neutral tones in interior spaces, for outside one has all sorts of colors. These colors are continually changing completely, and I would like to say that it’s simply glorious.